Conflict Management

Ask most managers where they spend most of their, so-called, “non-productive time”, and most will answer, "Dealing with people issues!"

Differences and disagreements are a natural part of working together. In a healthy organisation, where there are appropriate channels and ways of expressing differences, a certain amount of disagreement - or "conflict" - is energising and often creative.

However, when differences lead to personal confrontation, inappropriate aggression, or intolerably high levels of tension, something must be done to mitigate the tension and redirect the behaviors of those involved. This is the job of the manager, often in partnership with an HR professional.

PI is a source of information that can be a very powerful tool in helping to resolve conflict. By looking at the patterns of those involved, the manager can gain an objective understanding of similarities and differences in the people that may contribute to the underlying cause of the difficulties. She or he can also use PI to help design a way to approach the situation that will be most acceptable to, and effective with, the people involved.